Spectral monitoring of ingredient blending

A blending system including:

• a. a blender configured to mix ingredients therein, the blender having:
• (1) a mixing chamber configured to receive ingredients for mixing, wherein the mixing chamber defines a mixing bin wherein ingredients to be mixed may be fully enclosed, and
• (2) a solid imaging window situated on the mixing chamber, the imaging window being at least substantially transparent to one or more wavelengths of light;
• b. a light source aligned with the imaging window to illuminate any ingredients within the mixing chamber;
• c. a camera aligned with the imaging window, the camera being configured to capture a set of spectra from any ingredients within the mixing chamber, each spectrum within the set being captured from a different area next to the imaging window, wherein the camera is spaced from the mixing chamber;
• d. a processor configured to:
• (1) receive the spectra, and
• (2) generate a display from the spectra, the display being indicative of the distribution of the ingredients within the mixing chamber;
• e. an actuator configured to:
• (1) move the mixing chamber to agitate any ingredients therein,
• (2) move the mixing chamber along a path which periodically aligns the camera with the imaging window, wherein the camera is stationary during motion of the mixing chamber, and
• (3) move the mixing chamber at a slower speed when the camera is aligned with the imaging window.

A blending system including:

• a. a blender having:
• (1) a mixing chamber defining an enclosure for receiving ingredients to be mixed, the mixing chamber including:
• (a) a port openable onto and closable upon the mixing chamber,
• (b) an imaging window situated on the mixing chamber, the imaging window allowing transmission of one or more wavelengths of light into and out of the mixing chamber;
• (2) an actuator configured to move the mixing chamber to agitate any ingredients therein;
• b. a light source situated adjacent the mixing chamber, whereby the light source periodically illuminates the imaging window during motion of the mixing chamber;
• c. a stationary camera:
• (1) mounted adjacent the mixing chamber,
• (2) being configured to periodically capture a set of spectra from any ingredients within the mixing chamber next to the imaging window, the spectra being captured from contiguous areas next to the imaging window, wherein each captured spectrum is from one of the areas;
• d. a processor configured to generate from the spectra a measure of the uniformity of the distribution of the ingredients within the mixing chamber.

A blending system including:

• a. a blender with:
• (1) a mixing chamber defining an enclosure for receiving ingredients to be mixed,
• (2) an actuator configured to rotate the mixing chamber about a tumbling axis,
• (3) an imaging window on the mixing chamber through which one or more wavelengths of light may be transmitted into and out of the mixing chamber, the imaging window having a curved inner window surface;
• b. a stationary camera:
• (1) situated adjacent a path traveled by the imaging window during rotation of the mixing chamber,
• (2) being aligned to periodically image the imaging window to capture successive sets of spectra from any ingredients within the mixing chamber next to the imaging window, each set containing spectra from a row of areas next to the imaging window, and
• (3) having a fixed focus on or adjacent to the curved inner window surface during rotation of the mixing chamber;
• c. a processor configured to assemble the sets of spectra into sets of images wherein:
• (1) each set contains images representing spectra obtained after the same number of rotations of the mixing chamber,
• (2) different sets contain images representing spectra after different numbers of rotations of the mixing chamber,
• (3) each image within each set represents:
• (a) a field within the mixing chamber next to the imaging window, the field corresponding to the rows of areas, and
• (b) the spectral intensity at each area at the same wavelength,
• (4) the different images within each set depict the spectral intensity at each area over the field at a different wavelength.